Sunday, November 4, 2007
Beware: Poll Watchers
PITTSBURGH -- They went to the polls and their votes were counted even though they’d been dead for years.
Target 11 investigator Rick Earle pored through mounds of data and discovered that thousands of dead voters are still on the Allegheny county election rolls.
There are nearly a million people registered to vote Allegheny County, but we discovered that thousands of them aren't even living. So what's the big deal?
Well, someone could walk into a precinct and cast a ballot in that person's name and we discovered that it has already happened.
Charles Beck voted in the May primary.John O’Donnell and Patricia Deltondo cast a ballot in the general election last year, according to results from Allegheny county election board. But Target 11 discovered it was impossible for any of them to go to the polls.
Target 11 spent weeks looking through voter registration rolls, comparing them with the Social Security master death index.
There were more than a few glitches. Earle discovered more than 9,000 deceased voters were still registered to vote. Even more shocking, more than 16 of them voted in recent elections.
The disturbing part, is that election workers at the polls aren't catching the problem. Mark Wolosik, head of the Allegheny County board of elections, blames the problems on clerical errors.
Wolosik said, “With that many records sometimes you have mismatches. People make mistakes. I hate to admit it, but we do, too.”
Apparently relatives with similar names are voting for their deceased loved ones.
Wolsik said, “The important thing is only person voted.”
Maybe true -- but voting in place of a deceased family member has led to criminal charges in other states. Here in Allegheny County, these voters had no idea they had been voting for their dead relatives.
Since 2002 all of Charles Beck's votes were tallied under his grandfather's name, even though Beck said he alerted poll workers shortly after his grandfather passed away.
Charles Beck said, “I told that lady, my grandfather's deceased at this address. He's gone. So can you cancel out his voter registration and she said she would take care of it. And that was the end of that.”
Wolosik says the county is now working to remove deceased voters from the registry.
Wolsik said, “I think the thing to keep in mind is, when you look at it percentage-wise it's not a very big number.”
Marybeth Kuznik is the executive director of Vote PA. She said voters need to take their own precautions. “One of the best things we can do to combat this is if every voter would check his or her registration during the off season.”
To cut down on the potential for voter fraud, a state senator recently introduced legislation requiring voters to show a photo identification.
After Target 11 brought the mistakes to the election board, they immediately contacted the voters in question, and corrected the errors.
Target 11 investigator Rick Earle pored through mounds of data and discovered that thousands of dead voters are still on the Allegheny county election rolls.
There are nearly a million people registered to vote Allegheny County, but we discovered that thousands of them aren't even living. So what's the big deal?
Well, someone could walk into a precinct and cast a ballot in that person's name and we discovered that it has already happened.
Charles Beck voted in the May primary.John O’Donnell and Patricia Deltondo cast a ballot in the general election last year, according to results from Allegheny county election board. But Target 11 discovered it was impossible for any of them to go to the polls.
Target 11 spent weeks looking through voter registration rolls, comparing them with the Social Security master death index.
There were more than a few glitches. Earle discovered more than 9,000 deceased voters were still registered to vote. Even more shocking, more than 16 of them voted in recent elections.
The disturbing part, is that election workers at the polls aren't catching the problem. Mark Wolosik, head of the Allegheny County board of elections, blames the problems on clerical errors.
Wolosik said, “With that many records sometimes you have mismatches. People make mistakes. I hate to admit it, but we do, too.”
Apparently relatives with similar names are voting for their deceased loved ones.
Wolsik said, “The important thing is only person voted.”
Maybe true -- but voting in place of a deceased family member has led to criminal charges in other states. Here in Allegheny County, these voters had no idea they had been voting for their dead relatives.
Since 2002 all of Charles Beck's votes were tallied under his grandfather's name, even though Beck said he alerted poll workers shortly after his grandfather passed away.
Charles Beck said, “I told that lady, my grandfather's deceased at this address. He's gone. So can you cancel out his voter registration and she said she would take care of it. And that was the end of that.”
Wolosik says the county is now working to remove deceased voters from the registry.
Wolsik said, “I think the thing to keep in mind is, when you look at it percentage-wise it's not a very big number.”
Marybeth Kuznik is the executive director of Vote PA. She said voters need to take their own precautions. “One of the best things we can do to combat this is if every voter would check his or her registration during the off season.”
To cut down on the potential for voter fraud, a state senator recently introduced legislation requiring voters to show a photo identification.
After Target 11 brought the mistakes to the election board, they immediately contacted the voters in question, and corrected the errors.
Luke Ravenstahl with Bush and Santorum
Check out the third guy in line to great the president at the 911 Air Force base. Thanks to the Burgh Report for uncovering this footage. Pretty amazing seeing Luke sucking up to the president that has 'ruined Pittsburgh'! LIES, MORE LIES!!!
http://kdka.com/local/President.George.W.2.389032.html
Here's another one that I found on townhall.com...Now who did you say was more buddy buddy with these guys?
Saturday, November 3, 2007
My Opinion - DeSantis vs Ravenstahl
After almost eighty years of single party rule in the city of Pittsburgh, this election has become an historic one. What is at stake is much greater than just the candidate's race. It is essentially a referendum to the residents of Pittsburgh as to whether they desire a democratic two-party system or a one party authority. This republic was founded on the principle that we would not accept a oligarchy. The founding fathers instead chose to lay out multiple democratic options for the citizens to choose from. Let us now rise up and show that party affiliation is not the sole quality that makes a good representative but their credentials. This is not about two individuals, but supporting a just system that gives the electorate choice. If Pittsburgh chooses to continue with its one party rule, it will have abandoned the fundamental principles of this great nation. Vote for DeSantis, not only because he is the better candidate, but because it will send out a clear message that we don't want to relinquish our basic right to choose.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
I was going to try and do this, but I have no time...Mark DeSantis vs Luke Ravenstahl
If anyone can assist in creating this, I think it would be really cute.
I thought of making a parody of the mac vs pc ads with DeSantis vs Ravenstahl...I just don't have the time and technical ability to play with it. If you do, please let me know ASAP!
Here's the script I wrote:
1- I’m Mark
2- And I’m Luke
1- I have loads of experience, advanced degrees, worked for the president and the senator. I’ve owned and run a successful business, helping others throughout the region. I’ve taught in major universities and I am an expert in public policy and management.
2- I played football. I was put into the position of president of city council as a compromise and then I accidentally became mayor when the last guy died….oh, yeah a got a Bachelor’s degree from college. Did I mention that I played football?
1- Well I believe in honesty and integrity. I think there should be complete transparency in government and we need to hold our elected officials to the highest standard.
2- I accepted questionable gifts from parties doing business with Pittsburgh. I used a FEMA SUV to get to the concert and I crashed the tiger woods match…I must stress that the whole incident with the police at the stadium happened BEFORE I became mayor…Oh, the whole deal with fixing the online poll was just part of the fun...
1- I was endorsed by all the major Pittsburgh Media. The Post Gazette, The Tribune, Pitt News and the Currier. As well as the FOP.
2- I was endorsed by my mom.
1- I love Pittsburgh and I know that we can rise above petty partisan politics and smear campaigns and elect the best man for the job.
2- George Bush, B-A-D/Santorum, B-A-D… Luke, G-o-o-d. I LIKE LUKE. I like beer.
1- Vote intelligently, vote DeSantis for mayor on November 6th.
JUST TO BE CLEAR THIS IS A PERSONAL PARODY AND IS NOT SPONSORED BY, OR CONNECTED TO, THE DESANTIS CAMPAIGN.
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